Geoege ligowsky



4 Sheets8heet 1.

(No Model.)

G. LIGOWSKY.

I CARTRIDGE LOADING MACHINE.

No. 464,883. Patented Dec. 8, 1891.

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G. LIGOWSKY. GARTRIDGE LOADING MACHINE.

No. 464,888. Patented Dec. 8, 189 1.

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(No Model.)

G. LIGOWSKY. GARTRIDGB LOADING MACHINE.

No. 464,883. Patented 1m. 8,1891.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

G. LIGOWSKY. CARTRIDGE LOADING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 8, 1891.

' UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

. GEORGE LIGOWSKY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE PETERS CARTRIDGE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CARTRIDG E-LOADING MACHIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,883, dated December 8, 1891.

Application filed June 20, 1889. Serial No. 314,929. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may'concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE LIGOWSKY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oin- 'cinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State the machine loaded, indented, and c'rimped.

It has forits-object the improved construction of this class of machines, and its novelty will be herein set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a perspective front elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is an enlarged sectional detail of the operating mechanism for the endless chain. Fig. 4:, Sheet 2, is an end elevation of the combined ratchet and brake wheel of Fig. Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the wad-strip feeding and cutting mechanism and associated parts. Fig. 6, Sheet 3, is an enlarged elevation of one end of the endless chain and associated parts. Fig. '7, Sheet 3, is an enlarged sectional side elevationof the shell feeding mechanism. Fig. 8, Sheetl, is an enlarged sectional side elevationof one of the magazines and associated parts under one position of the stroke. Fig. 9, Sheet 4, is a corresponding view to Fig. 7 under the opposite position of the stroke. Fig. 10, Sheet 4, is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the shell-crimping mechanism. Fig. 11, Sheet 4, is an enlarged plan of two connected links of the endless chain. Fig. 12, Sheet 4, is a sectional elevation of the combined link and shell-case. Fig. 13', Sheet 4, is an enlarged side elevation of the ratchet-and-pawl mechanism for feeding the wad-strips.

The same letters of reference are used to indicate identical parts in all the figures.

The frame of the machine, Figs. 1 and 2, is composed of any suitable table A, from which journaled in the upper ends of the uprights is a horizontal crank-shaft O, with two coincidently-set cranks, from which pitnien D extend down and are pivoted to the upper side of a cross-bar or head-block E, whose ends are guided in ways 61, upon the inner side of the uprights B.

- 'Upon one end of the shaft 0 is secured a driving-pulley F and upon its opposite end two eccentric disks 1) and G, the latter of which has a cam-slot o in its outer face.

In bracket-lugs d upon the under side of the table near its front edge are journaled two wheels H H, in this instance having polygonal peripheries of ten sides, around which are passed, so as to be taut, the shell-carrier, composed of an endless belt or chain I, which passes through slots 6, Fig. 6, in the table at each end and has its upper part confined in a groove f, Fig. 5, in the upper side of the table and connecting the two slots e,so as to bring the top surface of the belt or chain flushlwitll I v \Vhere amerai the top surface of the table. chain composed of links is employed, as illus'r uprights 13 extend at each end. Suitably trated in the drawings, each link, Figs. 10 and 11, is of the exactlength of one of the polygo nal sides of the Wheels H H, and is pivoted at each end to its adjacent links by two smaller links g, or in any other suitable man-. nor to prevent lateral flexure. Secured to and preferably integral with each link is a tubular shell-holder J (see Fig. 11) with a coincident opening through the link, which opening is countersunk to receive the flanged cap of the shell and thereby retain the latter in the holder, into which it snugly fits, as will be readily understood. The shell-holders all project from the outer surfaceof the links, and the slots 6 are of sufficient length to permit their free passage through the table as the wheels H H are rotated. v

The mechanism for operating the chain and lower end of the rod K. By the side of the rod carriers is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3,1

Where K is avertical rod guided in a bracket h, projecting from the adjacent upright B and through a slot in the table, and has at its upper end a laterally-projecting pin car-' rying a friction-roller t', confined in the camslot c of the disk G. Bythe side of the wheel,"

H and secured upon the sameshaft isa disk L, provided on one side of its periphery with ratchet-teethj and on the other. side with looking holes or perforations 70; (See Fig. 4.)

Between the disk L and wheel H is hung a dog-carrier Z, to which is pivoted a gravitating or spring dog m, which engageswith the teeth j, and to the outer end of which is pivoted a link n, which is in turn pivoted to the K and guided in the same manner is a second set of the cranks of the shaftC itwill be seen,

assuming the machine to be in the position of Fig. 2, that at every complete revolution of the shaft 0 and disk G the rod K will be given a downward and then an upward stroke. In its downstroke it turns the wheel H onetenth of its revolution and advances theshellcarrier I and its holders J one step, the carrier I imparting a corresponding rotation to the wheel H. In its upward stroke the dog m merely slips back into engagement with the next ratchet-tooth j. The periphery of .the

disk G is so shaped and the upper end of the rod M is of such length thatirnmcdiatelyat'ter this downstroke of the rod K has taken place the rod M becomes engaged by the disk G and is pressed down, thereby instantly shooting the bolt 11. into one of the perforations k of the disk L, thus locking the wheel H and carrier I, the position of the various parts of the machine at this point being shown in Fig. 1, where it will be seen that thecranks of the shaft 0 have passed their upper centers and are just ready to throw'the crosshead E down, and the shape of thedisk G is further such that it Will continue to engage the upper end of the rod M and hold it pressed down and the disk L and Wheel 1-1 thereby locked until the cranks of the arms 0 have passed their lowercenters and have liftedthe cross-head E high enough for the plungers carried by it to be freed from the holders of theshell-carrier. Just as the cross-head E has finished its upstroke the disk Gr has released the roller 0 and the spring q gives the rod M its upstroke and instantly retracts the tained in the holders.

bolt u just at the moment the rod K-is ready to begin its next downstroke to effect another partial rotation of the wheel H and advancement of the carrier I and its holders J. In this manner the carrier and its holders are advanced step by step and after each advancement are held locked while the crosshead E, with its variousmechanisms to be presently explained, make their down and up stroke in the work of loading the shells con- There are eight adjacent shells being acted on simultaneously at each downstroke ofthe cross-head E. The

last nearest the wheel 11 receives its charge of powder, the seventh previously charged re- *the previously-inserted felt wad, thefourth receives over the powder and'three'wads the charge of shot, the third receives a paper wad over the shot, the second entirely loaded-is indented or crimped, and the first, completely loaded and crimped, is ejected from its car,- rier through a registering hole in the table and into a discharging-tube N, Figs. 1 and'2.

The empty shells are fedmouth downward into a vertical feeding-tube 0, which extends down through the table and has its lower open end directly over and close to the chain I. This tube is kept constantly full ofshells and the mechanism for automatically dropping.

one at a tiineinto the directly-subjacent holder is seen in Figs 6 and 7. Upon a'lug '0, projecting from therear side of the tube 0 near its bottom, is a combined clamping anddroppingarm I, having at its upper end a clamping-pad w, extending through an aperture in the tube 0 and atits lower end a flange a", extendingthrough an aperture nearthe mouth of said tubeand engaging with the edge of the lowermost shell to hold it and the column of shells in the tube up during the shifting of the carrier andholders. An arm 1) extends from the lower part of the arm P around to the front of the tube 0 and is pivoted to a downwardlyextending finger c, which extends .through a bearing in the rib Q and bears constantly againstthe front edge of the chain under the tension of a spring d,secured ICC to the rear side of the tube 0 and bearing against the upper end of the arm P. Each link of the chain has a notch 6', Fig. 11, cut in its front edge at the middle, and the adjustment of the parts is such that directly the chain has been shifted each step and the mouth of the subjacent holder registers with the lower end of the tube Othe finger c slipsinto' described,'and so the feeding of the empty.

shells into the holders of the carrier goes on automatically. That part of the chain under and directly adjacent to the tube 0 is supported on each 'side' by guide-ribs Q, sup ported by standards R, secured to the under side of the table, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 6. As

the chain, with its holders containing shells,

leaves the wheel H to enter to the groove fin the top of the table there might bea tendency on the part of the shells to partially drop out of their carrier and become caught on the edge of the groove, and to overcome this the hinged follower S, Fig- 6, is provided. This consists of a wed ge-shaped plate hinged in the slot 6, as shown, and whose free end rides upon the periphery of thewheel H. If a shell should partially drop from the carrier, it will be caught upon the top of the follower and be pressed back to its place as the chain is shifted from the Wheel into the groove of the table, as will be readily understood. Passing along from the wheel I-I onto the table the first shell in its carrier comes first directly under the discharge-orifice f of the powdermagazine. (Seen in Figs. 8 and 9.) This magazineTis supported on a baseU and has a feeding throat g directly over a horizontal slidebar It, provided with a perforation 0 of just sufficient size to receive the requisite charge of powder and which also serves as a cut-0E. Pivoted to an arm 7 is a curved lever V, Whose upper end is slotted, as atj, toreceive a pin it, carried in lugs Z upon the rear side of the crosshead E, and whose lower end is slotted to engage apin m between lugs n on the rear end of the slide h. The adjustment of the parts is such that when the cross-head E is up to its highest point the perforation 0 registers with the throat g to receive the charge of powder, as seen in. Fig. 8, and when the crosshead E is down to its lowest point the slidebar h. has been drawn back by the action of the pin it on the lever V to cause the perforation 0 to register with the discharge-orifice f and so drop the charge of powder into the shell in the directly-subjacent holder J. To regulate the size of thecharge an adjustable slide 19', fitting upon the slide h, may be provided and acts to diminish the charge by bein projected by a set-screw q over the perforation o, as will be readily understood. The next shifting of the chain brings the shell with its powder under the first paper-wad rammer A, Fig. 5, which is a verticalcylinder carried by and made adjustable on the cross-head E.

Associated with this rammer is the wad cutting and feeding mechanism. The paper B is in strips and is fed in between feedingrollers O D, journaled in suitable boxes E, and is guided by flanges r upon a stationary block 5. There are four of these wad feeding, cutting, and ramming mechanisms, three of which are directly side by side, and the fourth on the other side of a shot-magazine F, Fig. 1, identical in construction and mode of operation with the powder-magazine and its associated and actuating parts, so that the description of one wad feeding, cutting, and ramming mechanism (illustrated in Fig. 5) will answer for all and will be presently given.

The lower feed-wheels D are secured to a horizontal shaft G, the end of which directly under the eccentric b is provided with a ratchet H, Figs. 1 and 13. A pitman-rodI,

with a ring J engaging the eccentric b, has

its lower end pivoted to a dog-carrier t, hung and carrying a pivoted spring or gravitating dog u, engaging with said ratchet on its rear side. On each upstroke of the cross-head E upon the shaft G by the side of the ratchet the rod 1 is lifted and turns the ratchet sufficiently to feed in the wad-strip to the required distance, and on each downstroke the dog slips back into fresh engagement, leaving the ratchet-shaft G and feed-wheels D stationary, as will be readily understood. The wadstrip B passes from the wheels C D into and through a slotted plate K, Fig.5, having two perforations through it, one for the passage of the rammer A into the shell, by which the previously cut-out and replaced wad is driven down into the shell, and the other directly under a cutting-punch L,-carried by and adjustable on the cross-head E directly in rear of the rammer A.

Beneath the perforation under the punch L is a tube M, in which is ayielding follower N, supported on a coiled spring 0, and whose upper end fits into the perforation and comes flush with the bottom of the slot in the plate K, and whose oflice is to yield as the punch comes down and cuts out the wad and then to return the cut-out wad back into the place it occupied in the strip, so as to be advanced by the next feed of the strip and on through the slot in the plate directly under the rammer A and over the mouth of the shell.

P is an adjustable washer in the tube M,

adjusted by a set-screw Q to regulate the tension of the spring 0'. Next to thepaper strip B is a felt strip B, Fig. 1, and then a second paper strip S, whose wads, in the order named, are, after being punched and fed,

rammed into the shell upon the powder.

Then comes the shot-magazine F, correpunched and fed wads are rammed over the 4 shotin the manner before described. 1 After having the last wad rammed in the shells are designed to be finished by being indented or c'rimped in any suitable Way; but in the present case I- have particularly shown and will specially-describe a'form of indenting mech: anism which is effective in its operation. The shells come successively under the indenting mechanism, Figs. 1, 2, and 10, conpunches are actuated by levers e, pivoted to-lugsfon thehead-block, engaging the punches at-their lowerend and having pins g at their upper 'ends'confined in inclined slotsh in projections from a collar i upon a plunger 13-, secured tothe cross-head E.

This plunger has at its lower end acylindrical anvil-block C", which'passes'throu'gh a perforation in the block A" and into the top-of the shell, and has indentations or groovesj'fon its loweredge,into which thepoints of thepunches press the i-nturned portions of the shell.- From the indenting or crimping mechanism the-shells come successively under a rammer D, Figsal and 2, which forces them on the downstroke of the cross-head E out of the holders of the carrier through a hole in the table into the discharge-tube N, as before explained. In this way eight shells in'a straight line are being acted on simultaneously at each downstroke of t the cross-head and the tinuous, and automatic throughout.

carrier is advanced one step after each upstroke of the cross-head to bring'the holders successively under each of the actuating mechanisms, and the operation is rapid, con- While a jointed metal chain for the shellcarrierI and. polygonal wheels for supporting and revolving the same'have been illustrated as the preferred form, it is to be understood that the invention as to this feature is'not to be limited to suchconstruction, for it is only essential that'the carrier be of the general form of an endless belt having the shell-hold ers secured thereto, and within those limits it maybe of any suitable material and construction, and may be supported upon andmoved by either round or polygonal wheels H H, or in any other suitable or convenient manner; but I do not mean to comprehend within the term carrier as employed in this application a rigid rotating table'or round table carrier with shell-cases projecting therefrom, for suchja form of carriers is not of my invention; Nor, so far as the mechanisms-for loadingthe shells is concerned, is the invention tobe'dimited to those illustrated in -combination' with an endless-'shell-carrier operat= I ing in the manner described, for any suitable or well-known forms of loading m'echain ism may be employed Without departure from the invention. To prevent jar in the downstroke of the cross-head E the punches for cutting the wads are surround with coiled springs U, Fig. 5, confined between the crosshead and collars V, resting upon the plate K audthrough which the punches playfl Having thus fully described my invention, I claim I 1. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination, withshell loading devices, of an endless belt, band, or carrier suitably actuated, said belt, band, or carrier beingprovided with shell-cases secured thereto and project- .ing therefrom, substantially asand for the purpose set forth. g 2. In acartridge loading machine, the combination, with'an endless belt, ba'nd, or car rier provided with she'll-cases secured there to and projecting therefronnof loading devices arranged and located overboth and 'in line with such endless-belt, band, or carrier,

and mechanism for giving the carrier intermitten-t motion and for operating the loading devices, substantially as and'for the purpose setforth. Y I

3; In acartridge-loading machine, the com bination, with anendless belt, band, or car rier provided with shell-cases secured'tliere to'and projecting therefrom, of a shell feed ing or delivery device located in the path of the carrier, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 4. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination, with an endless belt, band, or car rier provided with shell-cases secured theretoand projectingtherefrom, of a shell feed ing or delivery device-located in' the path of the carrier,loading,'finishing, and ejecting devices arranged over, above, and in line with said endless *belt, band, or carrier, and mechanism for vgiving the carrier intermittent motion and for operating the loading, finishing, and ejecting devices, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 3

' -5-. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination, with shell-loadingmechanism, of the'endless carrier I in operative connection with said mechanism; provided on' it's outer surface with open-ended projecting tubular shell-holders J, constructed and operating substantially 'in'the manner and'forthe purpose specified.

less carrier I, provided with shell-holders J,

in combination with a vertically-recip rocating cross -head carrying wad 'punchers andrammers, powder and shot magazines having valves actuated by said cross-head, and operating mechanisms for said carrier and cross head, substantially as described.

- 7'. In acartridge-loading machine, the combination,- with the endless'carrier I, provided withshell-holders J,*of-the feeding-tube O,

and an automatic shell-dropper located at the lower end of said tube and actuated by the carrier I, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In a cartridge-loading machine, a shellcarrier made ,iuthe form of an endless chain or belt provided with projecting tubular shell-holders and carried on wheels, in combination with a table on the upper surface of which the upper part of said carrier is supr0 ported and guided and shell-loading mechanism, substantially as and for the, purpose described.

GEORGE LIGOWSK'Y.

' \Vitnesses:

EDWARD REcToR, CHARLES BILLON. 

